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Landowners In the Border Wall’s Path: We Won’t Go Down Without a Fight

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Updated: 8:08 PM EST Nov 9, 2018

Landowners In the Border Wall’s Path: We Won’t Go Down Without a Fight

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Updated: 8:08 PM EST Nov 9, 2018

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WEBVTT ♪ SOLEDAD: I'M SOLEDAD O'BRIEN. WELCOME TO A SPECIAL EDITION OF "MATTER OF FACT" FROM HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY. I'M IN ANZALDUAS PARK, AND MEXICO IS JUST ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER. IT'S A NATURAL BORDER BETWEE THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO BUT FOR HOW LONG? "BUILD THE WALL" WAS ONE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S MOST POPULAR CAMPAIGN PROMISES. HE EVEN REVIVED IT FOR THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS. THE BORDER BETWEEN THE U.S. AND MEXICO IS NEARLY 2,000 MILES LONG. AND LITTLE BY LITTLE -- IMMIGRATION POLICIES DATING BACK TO PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AND GEORGE W. BUSH WALLED OFF LARGE SECTIONS OF CALIFORNIA, ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO. BUT LARGE SWATHS OF THE SOUTHERN THAT 95% OF THE LAND IS PRIVATELY OWNED. IN MARCH, CONGRESS APPROVED $1.6 BILLION FOR 100 MILES OF BORDER FENCING THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA, NEW MEXICO AND THE LARGEST STRETCH -- 33 MILES -- WILL RISE IN THE RIO GRAND VALLEY. 25 MILES WILL CUT THROUGH HIDALGO COUNTY. AND IT'S DÉJÀ VU FOR PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE PROJECTED PATH OF THEY TOLD OUR CORRESPONDENT JESS GOMEZ THEY'RE NOT GIVING UP TIME. JESS: IN SOUTH TEXAS, THE RIO GRANDE RIVER, THE BORDER BETWEEN MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES. >> THE WATER RIGHT NOW LOOKS LIKE GLASS, IT'S SO PEACEFUL. FOR THE CAVAZOS SIBLINGS, THE JESS: BANKS OF THE RIO GRANDE IN MEMORIES. >> IT WAS MY GRANDMOTHER WHO BOUGHT THIS LAND, AT A TIME WHEN WOMEN COULDN'T BUY LAND SO MY UNCLE AND MY DAD HAD TO SIGN FOR IT. JESS: THE 65 ACES OF FORMER FARMLAND IS NOW DOTTED WITH SMALL RENTAL PROPERTIES, INCOME THAT KEEPS THE FAMILY AFLOAT. >> WE DON'T GET RICH OFF OF IT, BUT IT HELPS US PAY OUR TAXES AND BILL >> WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR PROPERTY -- JESS: NOW THE LETTERS ARE PILING UP AT THE HOME LISA, A FORMER TEACHER, SHAR WITH HER BROTHER FRED. THEY'RE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, REQUESTING ACCESS TO THEIR PROPERTY, IN PREPARATION FOR BORDER WALL CONSTRUCTION. >> THE RED AREA HERE IS WHAT THEY WILL TAKE. JESS: THE NORTH WALL ON THE RIGHT, WOULD EFFECTIVELY SLICE THE CAVAZOS PROPERTY IN HALF THEY SAY, TRAPPING THEIR LAND, ANIMALS AND RIVERFRONT PROPERTIES ON OTHER SIDE. >> I WOULD ASSUME MY RENTERS WOULD NOT WANT TO BE HERE, ON THE INSIDE OF THE WALL. JESS: THE CAVAZOS, WHO WELCOME THE NEAR CONSTANT PRESENCE OF BORDER PATROL ON AND NEAR THEIR PROPERTYFEEL A WALL HERE WILL DO LITTLE GOOD. >> IF YOU CAN'T CATCH THEM COMING OVER A RIVER, A WALL IS NOT GOING TO STOP THEM EITHER. JESS: THEIR WASEN, REY ANZALDUAS , POINTS TO A SECTION OF WALL THAT WENT UP NEAR HIS PROPERTY IN GRANJENOTHE FORMER CUSTOMS AGENT SAYS, AT A MILE FROM THE ACTUAL BORDER, IT'S CREATED A NO MAN'S LAND. >> IN ESSENCE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A STAGING AREA FOR ILLEGAL ACTIVITY AND IT'S JUST A WASTE OF MONEY JESS: BUT OTHAL BRAND SAYS THIS SECTION OF WALL, HAS REDUCED ILLEGAL TRAFFIC THROUGH THE HIDALGO WATER DISTRICT HE MANAGES. HE SENT HIS EMPLOYEES TO FIREARMS THE BORDER, SHOT AT THEM. >> I DON'T WANT THAT 5 PERCENT ELEMENT THAT IS GOING TO COME CROSS HERE THAT'S CRIMINAL. I DON'T WANT PEOPLE COMING INTO MY COUNTRY ILLEGALLY, I WANT THEM TO FOLLOW MY LAWS THAT I HAVE TO LIVE BY EVERY DAY. >> WE'RE FARMING THE LAND THAT MY DAD PURCHASED AFTER WORLD WAR II. JESS: FARMER FRANK SCHUSTER IS SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLEHE'S TIRED OF THE BROKEN FENCES AND DRUG DROPS ON HIS BORDER PROPERTY. >> THE DAY-TO-DAY CHALLENGE IS TO BE ABLE TO STAY CALM WHEN YOU MIGHT HAVE SOMEONE RUNNING THROUGH YOUR YARD. JESS: BUT SCHUSTER SAYS MORE BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND TECHNOLOGY AT THE BORDER IS THE ANSWER, NOT A WALL. >> BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT, RATHER THAN TRYING TO CURE THE PROBLEM, ARE USING IT AS A CLUB TO BEAT THE OTHER SIDE UP AND WE'RE JUST STUCK DOWN HERE DEALING WITH THE ISSUES. JESS: ISSUES PROVING TO BE COMPLICATED FOR TEXAS PROPERTY OWNERS. THE TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT AND OTHERS, NOW HELPING LOW INCOME LAND OWNERS UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHTS. >> IF YOU DON'T WANT THE GOVERNMENT ON YOUR PROPERTY, TAKING SURVEYS, MEASURING, TAKING SOIL SAMPLES, IT'S YOUR PRIVATE PROPERTY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ALLOW ANYBODY ON IT. >> WE HAVE DETERMINED IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO FILE AN ORDER -- JESS: UNLESS, THERE'S A FEDERAL COURT ORDERWHICH THE CAVAZOS FAMILY HAS NOW LEARNED, IS ON ITS WAY. >> I GREW UP HERE. THEY SEE THIS AS A BAD PLACE. IT'S NOT A BAD PLACE. JESS: A PLACE, THE CAVAZOS SAY, THAT EASILY. >> THE ANSWER IS NO AND WE'LL FIGHTS IT AS LONG

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Landowners In the Border Wall’s Path: We Won’t Go Down Without a Fight

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Updated: 8:08 PM EST Nov 9, 2018

“Build a Wall,” was President Trump’s signature campaign promise in 2016. He even revived it for the midterms. In March, Congress approved more than $1 billion for 100 miles of additional border security and fencing. For some landowners in the projected path of the barrier, “Build a Wall” is more than a rallying cry. It’s threatening their way of life.

“Build a Wall,” was President Trump’s signature campaign promise in 2016. He even revived it for the midterms. In March, Congress approved more than $1 billion for 100 miles of additional border security and fencing. For some landowners in the projected path of the barrier, “Build a Wall” is more than a rallying cry. It’s threatening their way of life.